Downtown hosts free 'Saturday in the Park' jazz concert series

May 1, 2013

Tallahassee's Ponce De Leon Park will play host to the "Saturday in the Park" Jazz Concert Series, featuring artists from the Big Bend area on the first Saturday of each month from March to November. / Layni Case/FSView

Written by

Layni Case

Staff Writer

Florida State University isn’t the only cultural hotspot in the Capital City; Tallahassee’s downtown also has a lot to offer citizens spanning from businesses to the arts to charming parks. With events such as Downtown Marketplace, held on Saturday mornings, or Downtown Getdown, held Friday evenings, it is easy to see Tallahassee has an interest in providing as rich and full of a living experience as possible for its citizens.

As part of a cultural highlight, The Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, partnering with the Downtown Tallahassee Business Association, is hosting the 2013 “Saturday in the Park” Jazz Concert Series, featuring local jazz artists in the Big Bend area. Held on the first Saturday of each month from March to November, the series occupies Ponce De Leon Park, one of the Chain of Parks on Park Ave.

“The 'Saturday in the Park' Concert Series is aimed at providing a high quality entertainment experience for patrons of our downtown,” said Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority Executive Director Jay Revell. “Taking place on the first Saturday of each month, the series gives residents and visitors alike the chance to come Downtown for a few hours to enjoy food, beverages, music and the greatness of Downtown Tallahassee.”

The Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, or Tallahassee Downtown, as they are also called, was created to improve the business, development and quality of life outlook for the heart Tallahassee. Founded in 1971, they have been doing just that through a multitude of programs like the “Saturday in the Park” series.

“I like to say that at the TDIA, our work is to make Downtown work better," said Revell. "Since 1971, that has been at the core of our mission."

The Downtown Tallahassee Business Association has similar goals dedicated to revitalizing downtown culture and growth for Tallahassee and surrounding communities, making the pair a perfect fit to put on the series.

“I think it’s cool that we have events like the ‘Saturday in the Park’ series,” said FSU junior Chelsea Wilson. “It’s a great way to bring people together, and it features local artists, which is always a plus.”

This month’s concert will feature FSU’s own Leon Anderson Jr. performing with his group, Leon Anderson Group featuring Avis Berry. Anderson is Florida State’s director of Jazz Studies and is known for his work as a jazz percussionist, clinician and composer. The performance is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and all performances are free and open to the public.

“We invite everyone from around the Big Bend to grab a lawn chair and come out to enjoy the relaxing music and great food and drinks from area food trucks, restaurants and businesses,” said Downtown Tallahassee Business Association president Curt Reilly.